Smart people sometimes make a really dumb
decision. It’s not because they do not know how to deal with the issue. Rather,
they try to keep the conventional method, expected by the crowds. People are
afraid of doing something differently, especially if the method itself is not
welcomed by the crowds cheering for them. As a result, smart people inevitably
make ridiculous decision, preventing them from reaching another stage. The
vicious cycle needs to be broken in order for an advanced result.
In
revisionist history podcast, episode number 3, Malcom Gladwell introduced the
example of one of the greatest NBA players, Wilt Chamberlin, trying to explain
why smart people also make dumb mistakes. Wilt Chamberlin was a perfect player,
indefensible. Nobody can ever stop him if he dribbles to the opposite side of
the court. He was an irreproachable player except one tiny little weakness,
free-throw. In other words, if he could manage the only weakness, he could be
the ideal basketball player of the history. Obviously, Wilt Chamberlin tried so
many different methods to improve his free-throw and finally found out that if
he throws under-hand, a very awkward and unprofessional-looking format, he
could dramatically increase success rate of his shot. Thus, he eventually
changed his shoot form and experienced the apparent effect of it. However, he
did not keep up with his under-throw, returning back to his original form. Why
did Wilt Chamberlin return to his original method? Crowds, avid fans, did not
let him to throw in an awkward format.
Wilt
Chamberlin was already a super star back at the time. He was an idol for his
avid fans and a role model for every single player of the league. Imagine that
player throwing free-throw in a very awkward way just because to increase the
success rate. Obviously, avid fans can’t bear their idol being so
unprofessional. Thus, even though Wilt Chamberlin knew a way to resolve the
situation, can be described as a smart person, he decided not to keep up with
the method, a dumb decision.
The
situation is not so different in current South Korea. Productivity and
creativity of South Korean industries are in a stalemate. Employees only pursue
conventional methods that are no longer effective in increasing the
productivity. Certainly, there will be many smart, intelligent employees who
know how to resolute the situation. However, with the same reason of Wilt
Chamberlin, they rather choose not to be a smart, isolated person but to be an
obedient orthodox. Then, the society lacking productivity and creativity is
only left.
This
problem should be change. The vicious cycle should be ended. This process needs
courage, not the intelligence. It is true that smart people make dumb decision.
However, it is also true that smart people know the fact that it is a dumb
decision. What they need is the courage to fight with the orthodox, convention,
and social atmosphere. When they overcome these challenges, the society will
become a better place to live.
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